Zamfara Government on Tuesday said the figure of 10 new COVID-19 cases in the state announced on Monday by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was wrong, as the state had only recorded two new cases.

Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, the state Commissioner of Health told newsmen in Gusau that the state government had alerted the NCDC of the error and demanded that it be rectified.

“We were shocked and bewildered by this latest figure from the NCDC which said 10 new cases were confirmed when we know it was only two.

“Our records have shown that when results from the center returned, we had a total of 76 cases made up of 45 discharged persons, 26 in isolation and five dead, so we didn’t know where NCDC got the additional eight.

“We approached the center which could not give a convincing explanation, and so we demanded for a written apology which they promised to send as well as withdraw the media publicity that we had 10 new cases,” the commissioner said.

He said the state government had recently procured all the necessary tools and equipment to set up a COVID – 19 sample testing center and was waiting for facility visit by officials of the NCDC so that the center can take off.

“This will save us from unnecessary delays, the risks of traveling to Sokoto daily as well as provide such services to our neighbouring states that require such services,” Kanoma said.